Paddy Andrews is set to miss Dublin’s Championship opener with Laois on Saturday due to a back injury.

Andrews hasn’t played for Dublin since the League semi-final win over Donegal and has had problems with a disc in his back.

But while the St Brigid’s attacker is believed to be getting on top of the issue, the game at Nowlan Park on Saturday evening is likely to come too soon for him.

Dublin travelled to Kilkenny on Saturday to familiarise themselves with the venue and played their final trial game there ahead of the Laois clash, which will be their first Championship game outside Croke Park in a decade.

Having impressed of late, including Saturday’s A v B run out, Cuala youngster Con O’Callaghan is in line to make his Championship debut on Saturday.

But it remains to be seen whether he is handed a starting role or is introduced off the bench.

It is anticipated that Laois - who are due to train at Nowlan Park tonight - will change tack from their free-wheeling preliminary round win over Wicklow and employ a very defensive formation in a bid to contain Jim Gavin’s rampant Dubs, who are unbackable favourites to sweep past Mick Lillis’s side en route to yet another Leinster title.